The Incredibly Obsolete Linux Box --HELP !

[MegalosSkylaki]

Have on old Laptop with only 4 +4 = 8 Mbs. of propriatary memory.

486 Cpu wqith Win95Lappy version, installed. Crashes a lot 'cause 8 Mbs. ain't enough for Win 95 to do anything vaguely multitask.

Ha..problems compound:

--No CD -ROM
--No Lan.
--Battery won't hold charge anymore. Lives on AC.

So if I want a Linux box to play and learn with, and don't want to shell out $bucks$ for proprietary memory--what are my best User-Friendly Linux bets ?

Dang ! Even an old Drake 7.2 SW I have is in 3 CD-Roms...

Anything Linux & User-Friendly -even if old and limited-will work on this Lappy ? In near untouched condition, so I don't want to just throw it out. How would I install it without a CD-ROM or I-net?

ThanX,

da DOOOOOOOOG

[pbharris]

um - i would go with somthing like redhat 4.2, redhat 5.0 or maybe slackware 3. finidng non-cdrom versions may be harder, but i know it can be done. else try linux from scratch.

[XxCowOfChaosxX]

omg...how can you even think of turning it on? put it out of its misery!
486 laptop: every moment I live is agonY...end my suffering

i suggest buy an old computer from compgeeks or sumthing, you will be glad you did, plus, no more "concise" OS's

[linux_guru]

I think I have RH 5.0 on floppy, somewhere around here .............

[vass0922]

could always look for the linux router project

linux on a single floppy!
not REAL useful if you dont' want a router though

[Zitch]

Hmm.. A router with no LAN port and possibly a modem... I'd like to see how this would "route" packets...

[MegalosSkylaki]

Doh ! I notice that chapmc has the same problem.

Maybe we should put our Lappies into Binary Conjugation or such....

Anyhow, I dug up a PCMCIA card with lan/modem , so if the Lappy has a slot for it--and da 8Mbs can support anything else in Win95 other than just boot, maybe I can get a Penguin to get in there.

Thanks,
DOOOG

And what do I feed a Penguin in a Lappy...

[brunix]

Feed a Penguin? I your case I would guess 110V ac untell you rebuild that battery pack.

I took a ext HD case with a PRT connector and put a cd-rom in it and connected it to the PLT port on my old Lapper. The lack of memory will only run a shell if I read right.

Brunix

[samwichse]

Hey dOOOOOOOg, I'm using a distro right now called Damn Small Linux to run on an old Compaq 486 (AMD 66mhz SX chip) with 12MB of ram (in 72pin simms). It requires a minimum of 8MB of ram and has X Windows with a tricked out Fluxbox WM. It's got all the basics like web browser, email client etc.

The web browser is called dillo by the way and installed it only takes 300k of space.

The whole thing is Knoppix based so autodetection etc is excellent, and it's a modern kernel (v2.4.20).

Check it,
Sam

[MegalosSkylaki]

[Standard DooG Greeting--assumming there is anything statndard about DOOOG]

All of these suggestions have merit..but also it seems a catch 22 or maybe even 23...

Hmm..I thought of turning it into a portable router, so anywhere I go which only has dial-up, I can ue it with an external router..but whose goa carry all that around.

I thought of using an external HDD in a box, but all that I've seen use a USB port, and not an LPT port.

I wish I could use the darn screen at least fer something...like dual vision with another Lappy etc.

Maybe Ill post What to DO with an Old Lappy LCD screen?

Damn small Linux is an idea I'm thankful for --to address the memory problem...but still have the input proble.

You know what strikes me? The parts of an old Lappy might be useful by themselves. For example, remove the 2.5 half/gig HD and plug it in an external box as memory for another old--but usable Lappy. Gotta look at all the uses for the HDD.

The screen of course is the big prize. I saw a Shuttle Box XPC with a screen attached to its front !Don't know how he did it.

Haven't seen this old Lappy in years--so first thing is to check for a PCMCIA slot--but not too hopeful on finding it.. Lotsa old PCMCIA cards out there with dial-up modems for cheap. Then downloading would be timeconsumong-but possible for simethinglike Damn Small.

As I said, with only 8 Mbs, it don't multitask too wel, so I-net AND download might crash it !

Realy a 3.11 machine--but when Win 95 came out, some co. put it in this Lappy. Yucks-turn it into a win98 with by GF's Floopy set ? She had it for a 486 desktop and may still have the SW.

The damn part of all this is the cool $Grand$ I paid..AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! feels like my tail was stepped on, and don't wanna throw it away until all heroic measures to resuscitate have failed !

ThanX and keep thinking,

da DOOOG